Free discharge valve



Sept. 30, 1969 J. M. HORN FREE DISCHARGE VALVE Filed Oct. 23. 1967 nnnnnnuunnun mm 0% M EFF 54 3 3,469,792 FREE DISCHARGE VALVE John M. Horn, York, Pa., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Oct. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 677,299 Int. Cl. Bb 1/26 U.S. Cl. 239-456 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A free discharge valve having a cone shaped diffuser at the discharge end of the valve casing. The cone is supported by a plurality of circumferentially spaced beams which do not extend into the interior of the valve casing as far as the centerline of the casing.

This invention pertains in general to valves and more particularly to free discharge valves.

Free discharge valves are used to pass a controlled amount of water for power requirements, flood control, irrigation or to drain a reservoir or pond. Valves of this type control and dissipate an enormous amount of energy by breaking up the discharge into a large hollow expanding jet. This is accomplished by providing a conical shaped member at the discharge end of the valve.

In the prior art the conical shaped member or cone is connected to the valve casing by means of ribs extending completely across the valve casing. It was felt the ribs must extend completely across the valve casing in order to provide sufficient support for the cone. However, in certain instances the longer ribs actually contribute to a more complicated installation. Because of their longer length, the prior art ribs have a low natural frequency of vibration. The installation must therefore be designed taking this into consideration. It is the general object of this invention to provide a free discharge valve wherein the means for supporting the cone shaped member do not have a low natural frequency of vibration.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a free discharge valve wherein the cone shaped member is supported by a lurality of beams attached to the inner surface of the valve casing which however do not extend to the centerline of the valve casing.

These and other objects of the subject invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in light of the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional side elevation of a prior art valve;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the lines IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side elevation of a valve constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the lines IVIV of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional end view of a modified form of the valve.

Referring to the drawing, the inner stationary valve casing 5 may be generally cylindrical in shape and has an intake opening 6 and a downstream edge 7. The intake opening is usually, but not necessarily, provided with a flange 8 for attachment to the water passageway. On occasion, this connection could be accomplished by welding.

States Patent D In order to diffuse the large amount of water that is flowing through the free discharge valve, a conical member or cone 9 is provided at the discharge end of the valve casing. The base of the cone is spaced axially from the downstream edge 7 of stationary casing 5. The apex 11 of the cone is substantially at the centerline of the valve casing and is directed toward the intake opening of the valve.

In order to support the cone relative to the valve casing, ribs are necessary. In the prior art shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, ribs 12 extend across the interior of the valve casing. The ribs are also connected to the cone 9 thereby supporting it in position at the discharge end of the valve.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, with applicants invention the ribs 13 supporting the cone do not extend across the interior of the valve casing. The ribs are in effect beams rigidly connected to the surface of the valve casing and extending beyond the discharge opening 7. As shown herein for purposes of illustration, the beams are connected to the interior of the casing 5; however, they could be connected to the exterior surface and the sleeve (to be described later) would then be supported on the interior of the casing. The cone 9 is connected to free ends of the beams. Since the beams do not extend completely across the interior of the valve casing, they do not interfere to the same degree as the prior art with the free flow of Water through the valve. Furthermore, because they are much shorter in cross section, the beams 13 have a much higher natural frequency of vibration than the ribs 12.

An outer casing or sleeve 14 is slidably received on the inner stationary casing 5. This sleeve has a discharge edge 15 which defines a variable water opening with the cone 9. Threaded shafts 16 are received in complementary threaded bores 17 on the sleeve 14. Gears 18 are provided at one end of the shafts 16 and in turn are in mesh with worms 19. Rotation of the worms 19 causes the shafts 16 to rotate moving the sleeve 14 to either the closed position with the edge 15 engaging the cone 9 or to the open position shown in the drawing.

The beams 13 shown in FIG. 4 are in effect half pipes welded to the interior surface of the valve casing. In FIG. 5 the beams 21 are constructed of angle members welded to the interior surface of the valve casing.

Although only two embodiments of the subject invention have been herein shown and described, other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading this description.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A valve comprising: an inner stationary casing having an intake opening and a discharge opening; a plurality of axially extending spaced ribs rigidly connected to the surface of said inner casing and having free ends extending beyond said discharge opening, said ribs being free of connection with one another within the confines of said inner casing and terminating short of the centerline of said inner casing; a conical shaped member having its apex directed toward said intake opening connected to said free ends of said ribs beyond said discharge opening; an outer casing slidably contained on said inner casing and having a discharge edge which defines a variable opening with said conical member; and means to move said outer casing between an open position spaced from said conical 3,469,792 3 4 member to a closed position wherein said discharge edge References Cited is in liquid sealing en agement with said conical member.

2. The valve set Forth in claim 1 wherein said ribs UNITED STATES PATENTS are in eifect hollow split pipes having the legs of the pipe 5711048 11/1896 Ledden 239 514 welded to the interior surface of the stationary casing and 5 1,745,297 1/1930 Hafry 239-515 X the free ends to said conical shaped member. 2,747,939 5/1956 calrd 239-456 3. The valve set forth in claim 1 wherein said ribs are LL in effect angle iron having the legs of the angle Welded to A EN KNOWLES Primary Examiner the interior surface of the stationary casing and the free U.S. Cl. X.R. ends welded to the conical shaped member. 10 239515, 524 

